Or what I learned after reading the logs of brute force attacks on our server.
The logs issued by the Logwatch daemon on our server weren’t pretty…they told a grim tale of the attacks that besieged our server daily. I resolved to do something about it
Fail2ban proved to be an easy install. I just followed the instructions on the 2nd link given, ensuring that I configured a local jail.conf file to store my settings in. I’m not entirely clear on how to read/parse CIDR addresses, but I think I got it right regardless. One thing to remember that’s not listed here is to turn on iptables, if it isn’t already.
# /etc/init.d/iptables start
Now I have to determine if I can tie Fail2Ban to Logwatch.
I’ve had the joy of trying to figure out why certain domain emails aren’t reaching certain users, especially Hotmail. Granted, SPF records and reverse DNS needed to be set up, but all the research and hard work are not paying off in the case of Hotmail/MSN/Live (all Microsoft brands) using a competing framework. All research points to SPF and SenderID not playing nice with each other…and Hotmail’s response? Starting at a mere $200, you can become a certified sender (Sender Score Certification) and reach over 3 billion inboxes.
I’ve found OpenSPF’s record wizard, Microsoft’s SenderID wizard(which appears to publish the exact same thing) and the SPF Query Tool helpful in setting up the correct DNS content. The following article also made this change easy. Since DNS Stuff went pay-for-service, I’ve had to resort to free DNS check tools like MXToolbox to look up things like reverse DNS and blacklist records.
120 S Denton Tap Rd
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 393-3894
Local Diner serves up simple, inelegant, unpretentious fare. The fiance and I paid the Local Diner a visit for a Sunday breakfast. This Coppell outpost evoked old-time diners…barstools and tiled countertops, bright lighting, primary colors, and scores of 40s-60s memorabilia hanging from the walls. Our hosts were courteous and upbeat, very attentive when it came to taking orders and refills. While the Sunday church and sports crowd slowly filtered in, the fiance and I dove into our simple repasts. I ordered eggs and bacon with a side of 2 pancakes, while the soon-to-be-DH ordered French Toast with his eggs and ham. I found our meals acceptably executed, nothing too exciting or daring in the presentation…though I thought the bacon was lacking in salt. Nothing else thrilling to report about the meal…except that it was priced just right for what we got. Perhaps their lunch menu will have more tasty offerings…but one presumes too much to expect any more from this budget dining destination.
761 S MacArthur Blvd
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 745-8822
I’ve been drawn to this place ever since I saw the “kolache” sign beckoning. And I was pleased to discover that this little hole-in-the-wall bakery serves some mighty fine fruit kolaches, in addition to their sausage kolaches and cinnamon rolls. I confess that the first time I arrived at 1pm during a weekday I was worried that I wouldn’t get a chance to try their sausage rolls (they had run out). But my consolation was a half-dozen cinnamon rolls which proved to be tasty. Hoping it wasn’t a fluke, I’ve returned with the soon-to-be-DH who reckons himself a cinnamon roll fanatic. We came early on a Saturday morning and sampled sausage rolls (tasty and spicy), ham & cheese rolls (good), fruit kolaches (blueberry was an excellent rendition) and their cinnamon rolls (went back for seconds). We both agreed that everything exceeded expectations…and we enjoyed the cafe feel of the small dining room (loved the mural) and the counter staff was helpful and courteous. Kasa Kolache is definitely worth stopping by if you’re craving a good baked breakfast.
I remember the original Uncle Tai location in the Dallas Galleria, well known for supplying North Dallasites with fine Chinese cuisine in upscale digs. I’m happy to hear that Uncle Tai relocated to smaller, casual and cozy outpost in Coppell. While I’ve only sampled one lunch dish from their takeout menu, I’m looking forward to trying out more of their menu. The tasty Hot Garlic Beef I ordered came out well prepared and cooked to order (I requested broccoli), though I must remember to stress steamed rice in the future–I wasn’t too keen on the dirty fried rice they paired with my lunch portion. I gobbled down lunch like Chinese food was going out of style–proof that Uncle Tai hasn’t lost his touch. I am looking forward to more takeout and delivery from Uncle Tai’s!
I was thrilled to discover great Thai food in Coppell. The fiance and I visited Siam Thai for dinner and we feasted like royalty here. Nearly everything we ordered was a delightful treasure trove of flavors. The fried calamari were not the typical deep-fried rings usually offered by other restaurants–ours was a plate of lightly battered toothsome squid sticks, paired with sweet chili sauce. The coconut soup was at once sweet, sour and mildly spicy, with a slight fishy-sauce aroma…the signature of a well-balanced, flavorful coconut soup. The corn patties, while filling, was the only appetizer to disappoint, the batter seemed too thick and overpowered the scattered kernels of corn. As for the rest of the dinner, we requested 4- to 5-star heat with our pad thai with pork, Thai spicy peanut sauce with chicken and their signature seafood dish on sizzling plate. The pad thai noodles was a fantastic rendition of the classic dish…and with the added heat, we found we couldn’t stop eating despite the slow burn. The Thai peanut Chicken–while nowhere near the caliber of Banana Leaf’s version–was still a crowd-pleaser, and disappeared faster than the pad thai noodles. As for the sizzling seafood, I was pleased to see many different chunks of seafood swimming in the red coconut curry…this turned out to be the spiciest of all the dishes we sampled that evening–perhaps due to its still being served piping hot. Everything turned out delicious, and we lamented that even when loosening our belts, we couldn’t stuff ourselves any fuller with the excellent meal before us. Thankfully, we’re within delivery range of this Thai restaurant and we look forward to sampling more of their exotic menu!
The Original Fried Pie Place will be the death of me. I like fried pies way too much…and the small variety of meat and fruit pies peddled here will keep me coming back for more. And wow, now they also serve funnel cakes. There’s nothing else like this restaurant in Texas! I’m looking forward to their Spinach/Mushroom/Cheese and Broccoli/Chicken on my next visit.
The fiance and I ventured into J macklin’s after scoping out the local options for some good food in what we hoped were comfortable surroundings. When we walked into J macklin’s, it looked like we had scored. The only issue: we felt dirty and under-dressed for the place.
J macklin felt a touch upscale, though there were no white tablecloths in evidence. This neighborhood eatery might be the place to host a celebratory dinner without having to venture to the big city for some high-end grub. It seemed cozy and casual enough for a date as well.
The menu prices reflected the ambitions of the restaurant: upcharging for upscale renditions of familiar food. Not too many appetizers under $5; for the $10 price point you will find burgers and sandwiches, $12-15 for salads, and higher, you get some steaks and seafood. Was the food worth the price?
I was underwhelmed by the pulled pork sliders, finding them dry and bland. I found the sweet pickle spear that topped the sliders mighty tasty however…and I don’t generally like pickles. Since I felt like having a burger, I also ordered some sweet potato fries; both the fiance and I found them yummy, but not as memorable as the crinkle cuts at Jake’s.
The fiance ordered a barbecue brisket sandwich while I ordered a mushroom swiss, medium rare. Again, as with the sliders, I felt the brisket sandwich lacked moisture and zing…perhaps it was the unremarkable barbecue sauce that dressed it. The potato salad had a touch more bite to it, buttery potato chunks gently draped in a light mayo-mustard concoction. Could this be a signature of J macklin’s–uncomplicated and unpretentious flavors?
My mushroom-swiss burger came on what appeared to be a house-made bun, dripping with melted cheese and beef juices–and perfectly medium-rare as ordered. I was delighted by the basil mayo dressing and ordered more. I was also pleased by their house salad–not an iceberg lettuce salad, but with romaine and field greens. The shallot vinaigrette tasted honey sweet, but left me wanting for a real shallot taste.
The dining space was intimate, not too loud on our Sunday afternoon visit. The waitstaff was attentive and quick to check up on things. Based on our overall experience, I’d like to revisit J macklin’s and give the serious grub a try.
